Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Merle, Yes, Parkes is an extremely famous and important RADIO-observatory, where a lot of radio-astronomy was invented after World War II, using military-surplus radar instrumentation, and making improvements on it (especially on the Receivers). Radio-astronomy was my first specialty in my career, so I look to Parkes as one would look to, say, White Sands, or Cape Kennedy for the development of rocketry after the War. It is that important. Many astronomical discoveries were made there. But it is not an Optical observatory. Often, the needs (of siting) of a radio observatory are at cross purposes with those of an optical observatory. A rad. obs. wants to be LOW, where its antennas can be shielded from artificial radio signals from radio and TV, etc., transmitters. An optical observatory wants to be HIGH, where it can be above air and dust and lights, and air currents that disrupt the wave-front of the light. Parkes is no good for my current work as an optical observer, and was no good for my past work in radio, because it is too LOW. We chose to site our instrument in Chile because it is high and dry there, and our radio waves of choice are so short (microwaves) that water vapor and clouds DO disrupt them. Chile was / is ideal. There are places in Chile that make the Nullarbor Plain of Australia look like the Garden of Eden! I loved getting to know the stars of the South, Merle. It was like starting over. I've had several lifetimes, already. And they say there's no such thing as Reincarnation! ;-) --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > joe... i believe their is an observatory out at parkes..nsw..i'll check >net..yes i have walked to top of mount k ... it's a very easy "stroll" > joe i know nothing about stars... sorry... on a clear night yes you can see > all..it's gorgeous.no we do not get glow of sydney..yes it is pitch > black...sydney you see the lights of city in the very very way off > distance... cheers merle Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
joe... i believe their is an observatory out at parkes..nsw..i'll check net..yes i have walked to top of mount k ... it's a very easy "stroll" joe i know nothing about stars... sorry... on a clear night yes you can see all..it's gorgeous.no we do not get glow of sydney..yes it is pitch black...sydney you see the lights of city in the very very way off distance... cheers merle Merle, If only Australia had higher mountains than it does, I might have worked there at some time. There at great observatories there, but at too low altitude for some work. I'm sorry I haven't yet visited. As you know, Australia's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, named for one of my relatives in the Polish half of the family, is just meters high. That's the same height as the mountain we chose to adopt as the base for the Southern wing of our US National Observatory, in Chile, at Cerro Tololo; this is in the foothills of the Andes, in the world's driest desert, the Atacama. The skies there are almost always clear, and rainfall is very slight; it's three times drier than Southern Arizona, where our Northern observatory is based. When you see them, do you recognize the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds? And does the Coal Sack stand out nicely against the bright Milky Way background in Centaurus? I'm just trying to get an idea of how *dark* it may be at your place, so close to Sydney as to be within the glow of the city. I share your appreciation of clouds, and enjoy painting them into my landscapes paintings. Astronomers never like to see clouds at nighttime, however. Photos of observatories with photogenic clouds in the sky are considered bad publicity in our field. --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > joe...i see the night sky beautifully..best air quality in the world here >they say..it's beautiful..what i love are the cloud formations...before you >drive up to the mountain top...you go across very flat ground..mainly veggie >farms... and i always look at the clouds...one can get almost a 360% >view,..magical..i do love clouds... yes beautiful..stars et all..merle
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Merle, If only Australia had higher mountains than it does, I might have worked there at some time. There at great observatories there, but at too low altitude for some work. I'm sorry I haven't yet visited. As you know, Australia's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, named for one of my relatives in the Polish half of the family, is just meters high. That's the same height as the mountain we chose to adopt as the base for the Southern wing of our US National Observatory, in Chile, at Cerro Tololo; this is in the foothills of the Andes, in the world's driest desert, the Atacama. The skies there are almost always clear, and rainfall is very slight; it's three times drier than Southern Arizona, where our Northern observatory is based. When you see them, do you recognize the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds? And does the Coal Sack stand out nicely against the bright Milky Way background in Centaurus? I'm just trying to get an idea of how *dark* it may be at your place, so close to Sydney as to be within the glow of the city. I share your appreciation of clouds, and enjoy painting them into my landscapes paintings. Astronomers never like to see clouds at nighttime, however. Photos of observatories with photogenic clouds in the sky are considered bad publicity in our field. --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > joe...i see the night sky beautifully..best air quality in the world here >they say..it's beautiful..what i love are the cloud formations...before you >drive up to the mountain top...you go across very flat ground..mainly veggie >farms... and i always look at the clouds...one can get almost a 360% >view,..magical..i do love clouds... yes beautiful..stars et all..merle Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
joe...i see the night sky beautifully..best air quality in the world here they say..it's beautiful..what i love are the cloud formations...before you drive up to the mountain top...you go across very flat ground..mainly veggie farms... and i always look at the clouds...one can get almost a 360% view,..magical..i do love clouds... yes beautiful..stars et all..merle Merle, No, no, don't misunderstand. I am not encouraging you to travel to see a teacher, and sangha. You've made it clear you do not undertake to do that. So, what of the sky light at night at your place when there's no moon? Do you see the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, and does the light "pollution" hurt the view of them much? It's a big city, and 43 miles is very close. --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > joe...on a clear day i can see sydney skyscrapers..from every room in the >house... i do my best as best can be under the circumstances...we are not all >as free as birds to do as we wish whenever we wish..i have family >responsibilities and commitments..i try my best..i make effort every day... be >kind and patient...merle
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Merle, No, no, don't misunderstand. I am not encouraging you to travel to see a teacher, and sangha. You've made it clear you do not undertake to do that. So, what of the sky light at night at your place when there's no moon? Do you see the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, and does the light "pollution" hurt the view of them much? It's a big city, and 43 miles is very close. --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > joe...on a clear day i can see sydney skyscrapers..from every room in the >house... i do my best as best can be under the circumstances...we are not all >as free as birds to do as we wish whenever we wish..i have family >responsibilities and commitments..i try my best..i make effort every day... be >kind and patient...merle Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
joe...on a clear day i can see sydney skyscrapers..from every room in the house... i do my best as best can be under the circumstances...we are not all as free as birds to do as we wish whenever we wish..i have family responsibilities and commitments..i try my best..i make effort every day... be kind and patient...merle Merle, So I hear you say. But you take me wrongly. I was addressing someone here who is practicing Soto Zen with a teacher; yet, you commented anyway, and in a way to chastise me, then. This, although you practice with no teacher, and may not know Soto from Rinzai from Obaku, unless you've read some good foundational books, and remember something factual of what you have read. 70 km? That's about 43 US miles. I suppose you can see the glow of the City in your night sky. Does the sky light interfere with your naked-eye view of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds? --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > joe..we have been there i can't get to a teacher..so i teach myself...edgar > would not be saying i need a teacher...i am my own teacher..for the 100th > time i live 70 ks from sydney...don't you get it?... it's impossible... so i > MUST do my own teaching merle > > Merle, > > If you are practicing Soto Zen with a teacher and sangha, then, and only > then, shall I apologize, and profusely, too, with kudos and best wishes. But > ONLY at that time. > > What teacher have you? > > Ah; you need none. Right! > > ;-)
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Merle, So I hear you say. But you take me wrongly. I was addressing someone here who is practicing Soto Zen with a teacher; yet, you commented anyway, and in a way to chastise me, then. This, although you practice with no teacher, and may not know Soto from Rinzai from Obaku, unless you've read some good foundational books, and remember something factual of what you have read. 70 km? That's about 43 US miles. I suppose you can see the glow of the City in your night sky. Does the sky light interfere with your naked-eye view of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds? --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > joe..we have been there i can't get to a teacher..so i teach myself...edgar > would not be saying i need a teacher...i am my own teacher..for the 100th > time i live 70 ks from sydney...don't you get it?... it's impossible... so i > MUST do my own teaching merle > > Merle, > > If you are practicing Soto Zen with a teacher and sangha, then, and only > then, shall I apologize, and profusely, too, with kudos and best wishes. But > ONLY at that time. > > What teacher have you? > > Ah; you need none. Right! > > ;-) Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
joe..we have been there i can't get to a teacher..so i teach myself...edgar would not be saying i need a teacher...i am my own teacher..for the 100th time i live 70 ks from sydney...don't you get it?... it's impossible... so i MUST do my own teaching merle Merle, If you are practicing Soto Zen with a teacher and sangha, then, and only then, shall I apologize, and profusely, too, with kudos and best wishes. But ONLY at that time. What teacher have you? Ah; you need none. Right! ;-) --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > how would you know cousin joe? you are too rule driven... loosen up and > take time out to smell the roses...and gaze at a full moon,,, merle
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Merle, If you are practicing Soto Zen with a teacher and sangha, then, and only then, shall I apologize, and profusely, too, with kudos and best wishes. But ONLY at that time. What teacher have you? Ah; you need none. Right! ;-) --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > how would you know cousin joe? you are too rule driven... loosen up and > take time out to smell the roses...and gaze at a full moon,,, merle Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Merle, I'm just a friend to All, and hence I don't guess in advance which friends may bitch. Don't you think this is a good, natural, self-lessness? --Joe > Merle Lester wrote: > > joe..you really need to stop that critical mind of yours working overtime... > if chris gets my message who are you to make bad vibes and create rotten > apples in the box?..merle Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
how would you know cousin joe? you are too rule driven... loosen up and take time out to smell the roses...and gaze at a full moon,,, merle Chris, Merle, Dunno why you bother with Colonel Sanders. "Finger-Lickin' good", notwithstanding. I thought you were practicing Zen, of some (Soto) sort. Merle, sorry: you are not practicing Soto Zen. --Joe > Chris Austin-Lane wrote: > > Thanks Merle, that's just the point I was trying to make. > > Thanks, > --Chris > 301-270-6524 > On Jun 17, 2013 4:13 PM, "Merle Lester" wrote: > > > chris...i checked the websites..there is so much there out on net..every > > tom dick and jennifer think they have the answers to the meaning of life...
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
joe..you really need to stop that critical mind of yours working overtime... if chris gets my message who are you to make bad vibes and create rotten apples in the box?..merle Joe, pretend I'm not addressing you with the current thread - clearly we are failing to communicate, yet I am curious about the responses of other practioners to my words. Sorry, --Chris Thanks, --Chris ch...@austin-lane.net +1-301-270-6524 On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 5:05 PM, Joe wrote: Chris, Merle, > >Dunno why you bother with Colonel Sanders. "Finger-Lickin' good", >notwithstanding. I thought you were practicing Zen, of some (Soto) sort. > >Merle, sorry: you are not practicing Soto Zen. > > >--Joe > >> Chris Austin-Lane wrote: >> > >> Thanks Merle, that's just the point I was trying to make. >> >> Thanks, >> --Chris >> 301-270-6524 > >> On Jun 17, 2013 4:13 PM, "Merle Lester" wrote: >> >> > chris...i checked the websites..there is so much there out on net..every >> > tom dick and jennifer think they have the answers to the meaning of life... > > > > > > >Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are >reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Chris, Nope; I say what I say without a hint of "challenge". And, with many blessings. Ningun problema, --Joe Chris Austin-Lane wrote: > > Joe, pretend I'm not addressing you with the current thread - clearly we are > failing to communicate, yet I am curious about the responses of other > practioners to my words. Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Joe, pretend I'm not addressing you with the current thread - clearly we are failing to communicate, yet I am curious about the responses of other practioners to my words. Sorry, --Chris Thanks, --Chris ch...@austin-lane.net +1-301-270-6524 On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 5:05 PM, Joe wrote: > Chris, Merle, > > Dunno why you bother with Colonel Sanders. "Finger-Lickin' good", > notwithstanding. I thought you were practicing Zen, of some (Soto) sort. > > Merle, sorry: you are not practicing Soto Zen. > > --Joe > > > Chris Austin-Lane wrote: > > > > Thanks Merle, that's just the point I was trying to make. > > > > Thanks, > > --Chris > > 301-270-6524 > > On Jun 17, 2013 4:13 PM, "Merle Lester" wrote: > > > > > chris...i checked the websites..there is so much there out on > net..every > > > tom dick and jennifer think they have the answers to the meaning of > life... > > > > > > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are > reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Chris, Merle, Dunno why you bother with Colonel Sanders. "Finger-Lickin' good", notwithstanding. I thought you were practicing Zen, of some (Soto) sort. Merle, sorry: you are not practicing Soto Zen. --Joe > Chris Austin-Lane wrote: > > Thanks Merle, that's just the point I was trying to make. > > Thanks, > --Chris > 301-270-6524 > On Jun 17, 2013 4:13 PM, "Merle Lester" wrote: > > > chris...i checked the websites..there is so much there out on net..every > > tom dick and jennifer think they have the answers to the meaning of life... Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] trivial pursuit
Thanks Merle, that's just the point I was trying to make. Thanks, --Chris 301-270-6524 On Jun 17, 2013 4:13 PM, "Merle Lester" wrote: > > > > chris...i checked the websites..there is so much there out on net..every > tom dick and jennifer think they have the answers to the meaning of life... > there so many "i can help you types"..one could get totally > bamboozled...it is the age of the self help books as well... > all seems to be in crisis..the age of seek happiness...seek seek > seek...when in reality it is really as bill so often say experience and > edgar says reality reality...i > t's really about acceptance as it is...you can only change what can be > changed and accept what cannot...and try to make the best of things... > this trivialisation of the "meaning of life"...well only a trivial mind > will create trivia... if that satisfies that mind what can you do?.. > it's a bit like being satisfied with cheap fast food not slow cooking.. > nothing trivial about "singing in the rain"..especially after a long > heartbreaking drought... > all can be put into perspective.. > merle > > > I wasn't really referring to the case when people with a lot of aware > experiences of buddha nature trivialize it - that seems like a non-problem > to me. > I was referring to the tendency of [my, i.e. US] culture to trivialize > everything, especially stuff from other traditions, e.g. > http://zeninamoment.com/ or http://www.kenwilber.com/blog/list/1 > http://bigmind.org/genpo-roshi > People want to think that there is some simple fix that they can acquire, > rather than that there is no problem, and nothing to fix but their own > tendencies to blindness, irritation and wanting stuff, which is extremely > non-trivial to lay down, and that the process of laying down these > tendencies is so profoundly satisfying that one can't find it trivial; it > is as trivial as singing in the rain while feeling happy. > In my experience, people in the US are apt to paper over the most profound > moments with silly thin ideas, turning away from the suchness we have a > chance to share in and turning towards some paper-thing abstraction. > Do I think that substituting "seeing God" or "seeing the face of God" > might help someone understand "Just This!" or "experience Buddha nature"? > I find it likely enough to be worth discussing. > > --Chris > Thanks, > --Chris > 301-270-6524 > On Jun 16, 2013 1:47 PM, "Joe" wrote: > > Chris, thank you taking the care to translate. All copied. ;-) > > "Silly thin ideas"? Are those thumb-pressed keys really making OK contact? > > Is there anyone here new to Zen who you will help? I hope so. > > Happy Day, > > --Joe > > > Chris Austin-Lane wrote: > > > > I reread my paragraph and the garbled bit is "so then I am not really > > addressing you" rather than "do then I am really addressing you." > > > > I am not addressing you because you seem to have some idea of one mind is > > God seeing and no mind is superior. > > > > I am trying to make a point about using rhe language "to meet God" > instead > > of "experience Buddha nature" so that Westerners new to Zen will not > > mistake silly thin ideas for experiencing Buddha nature. > > > > > > > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are > reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > >
[Zen] trivial pursuit
chris...i checked the websites..there is so much there out on net..every tom dick and jennifer think they have the answers to the meaning of life... there so many "i can help you types"..one could get totally bamboozled...it is the age of the self help books as well... all seems to be in crisis..the age of seek happiness...seek seek seek...when in reality it is really as bill so often say experience and edgar says reality reality...i t's really about acceptance as it is...you can only change what can be changed and accept what cannot...and try to make the best of things... this trivialisation of the "meaning of life"...well only a trivial mind will create trivia... if that satisfies that mind what can you do?.. it's a bit like being satisfied with cheap fast food not slow cooking.. nothing trivial about "singing in the rain"..especially after a long heartbreaking drought... all can be put into perspective.. merle I wasn't really referring to the case when people with a lot of aware experiences of buddha nature trivialize it - that seems like a non-problem to me. I was referring to the tendency of [my, i.e. US] culture to trivialize everything, especially stuff from other traditions, e.g. http://zeninamoment.com/ or http://www.kenwilber.com/blog/list/1 http://bigmind.org/genpo-roshi People want to think that there is some simple fix that they can acquire, rather than that there is no problem, and nothing to fix but their own tendencies to blindness, irritation and wanting stuff, which is extremely non-trivial to lay down, and that the process of laying down these tendencies is so profoundly satisfying that one can't find it trivial; it is as trivial as singing in the rain while feeling happy. In my experience, people in the US are apt to paper over the most profound moments with silly thin ideas, turning away from the suchness we have a chance to share in and turning towards some paper-thing abstraction. Do I think that substituting "seeing God" or "seeing the face of God" might help someone understand "Just This!" or "experience Buddha nature"? I find it likely enough to be worth discussing. --Chris Thanks, --Chris 301-270-6524 On Jun 16, 2013 1:47 PM, "Joe" wrote: Chris, thank you taking the care to translate. All copied. ;-) > >"Silly thin ideas"? Are those thumb-pressed keys really making OK contact? > >Is there anyone here new to Zen who you will help? I hope so. > >Happy Day, > >--Joe > >> Chris Austin-Lane wrote: >> >> I reread my paragraph and the garbled bit is "so then I am not really >> addressing you" rather than "do then I am really addressing you." >> >> I am not addressing you because you seem to have some idea of one mind is >> God seeing and no mind is superior. >> >> I am trying to make a point about using rhe language "to meet God" instead >> of "experience Buddha nature" so that Westerners new to Zen will not >> mistake silly thin ideas for experiencing Buddha nature. > > > > > > >Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are >reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >
